Love, War and Friendship - The Wizarding Way

Told From Hermione's POV

I woke up with a start the next morning to find that none of it had been a dream. Mr. Weasley was gently shaking me awake.

"Harry's on the phone for you Hermione," he told me. I groaned and looked at my watch. 7:00 am way too early. When he'd told me he'd call me today I hadn't expected it to be a wake up a call.

I trudged downstairs still in my pajamas and slippers. No one else besides Mr. and Mrs. Weasley was up anyway.

"Hi Harry," I said groggily into the phone. "What are you doing up so early?"

"Oh well Aunt Petunia woke me up so I thought you might be up too. Did I wake you?" the concern in his voice was so sincere that I couldn't get mad at him.

"No, I was asleep. But no biggie. I'd rather be talking to you." I could almost hear the big grin on his way through the phone. I knew Harry too well.

"So have any interesting dreams last night?" I asked. He should still be working on clearing his mind at night so that You-Know-Who couldn't access it.

"Nope, no nightmares either," he told me proudly. "First time in years. Well here at Privet Drive I mean."

"Harry thats great! Do you think the stuff that Snape taught you is finally starting to pay off?" For his sake I was hoping it was.

"No," he says. "I think it was a fluke. I had a distraction last night. A beautiful distraction."

I smile. "And what was that distraction?"

"Oh just some girl," he says, teasing me. "You wouldn't know her."

"Oh really?" I say before we both cascade into giggles.

"Stop being so corny," I told him. "Or I'll just have to move on to Ron. There's no way he'd say anything corny to me."

Harry fell silent. Woops. I probably shouldn't have mentioned Ron yet.

"So what are we going to say to him?" Harry asked.

"I thought we wouldn't for awhile. You know how he gets."

"But if we keep this from him for too long he's going to be even more mad when he finds out," Harry protested. "I think we should talk to him soon. He's going to suspect somethings happening when I come."

"Not if we're careful," I managed to choke out, thinking fast about what to do. "When are you coming?"

"Dunno. By the end of the week, Dumbledore said."

BY THE END OF THE WEEK? That only left a couple of days if even for me to fix this thing up. This was getting worse.

"It's great isn't it?"

"Yah...its really you know, great."

I felt a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. The pressure was raising in head. I needed to make a choice. I was going to pick Harry. Harry was the better choice. The smarter choice. We wouldn't fight. He'd treat me well.

"Is everything ok?" Harry asked picking up the unsincerity in my voice.

"Oh yah, " I say. "But I think Mrs. Weasley has breakfast ready so I'd better go. Talk to you later?"

"Definetly."

I feel really bad feeding him more lies. I dont think I've ever lied so much in my whole life. I guess I'm a good liar but thats not exactly something you want on your list of skills is it?

"'Morning," Ron greeted me coming up and hugging me from behind. He sure liked to hug. I wonder if he was a deprived child...

"What are you doing up?"

"Well I heard the stupid fellytone - "

"Telephone," I reminded him, giggling at his stupidness. On the other hand maybe I should pick Ron. He's so funny.

"Telephone ringing. Was it Harry?"

I nodded. "Hey is breakfast ready yet?" I asked trying to change the subject quick before he could ask why Harry was calling so early.

"I'll go check."

I nodded.

"So what exactly are you playing at?" I hear Fred ask. I didn't think he was talking to me at first. I hadn't seen him enter the room.

"What do you mean?" I ask nervously.

"Well You-Know-Who may not have tapped the phone lines but I did...worked really hard enchanting it last night. So want to explain this to me?"

I sighed and plopped down on the couch beside Fred. Surprisingly I told him everything, just spilled my guts out and he never interruptted once. I felt a lot better afterwards. "Well," Fred said when I asked what I should do now. "I'd say stick with Harry and set Ron up with Viktor Crum as his consolation prize."

By the time Ron came back from the kitchen me and Fred were rolling on the floor clutching our sides with laughter.

***

Told From Hermione's POV

Fred's been helping me a great deal. At breakfast Ron tried to hold my hand under the table and when he went to the kitchen to get more butter Fred stole his seat. Later he got me off of cleaning duty and himself out of a meeting with the order (something which I find so much more important than my problems) to help me make a list of pros and cons.

"So," Fred says holding a quill to the parchment and tapping it with his wand. "What do you like about Harry?"

"I like.. he's very kind to me and brave and a wonderful person. I can talk to him about anything."

"What about the physical?" Fred asked watching to make sure the quill was jotting down the right notes.

"The physical?" I repeat a little confused.

"You know do you think he's hott, cute or sexy? Does he turn you on?"

"Fred!" I exclaim shoving him lightly. "I'm not going to answer that...."

He waggled his eyebrows at me. "Come on, Herm. Just between you, me and the quill."

"Fine..I - Ithinkhescute," I say quickly.

"Alright then..Lets move onto cons then. What don't you like about Harry boy?"

"Erm well he's got a horrible temper lately and he can be very reckless and there's a great chance he could die before we finish our sixth year."

"That would be a good way to end the relationship," Fred commented, picking up the quill and moving it to a second piece of parchment.

"Pros for Ron," he says. I have to think for a moment.

"Well he pisses me off a lot," I said.

"Thats a pro?"

"I kind of like it," I say blushing slightly.

Fred wagged his eyebrows at me again. This time I think they took a suggestive look.

"He's funny," I continued trying to ignore Fred's smirk.

"So how do you feel about ittle ronnykins looks?" he asks in a baby voice.

"He's ok," I say slowly. "And..."

"And..." Fred gestures for me to go on.

"Andredhairkindaturnsmeon."

"Hermione Granger," Fred exclaims sitting up straighter and letting out a loud whistle. He flicks his own short, red hair at me. "Am I turning you on, Darlin'?"

"Cons!" I nearly shout my face bright red. "Cons! Umm...he likes to hug too much and umm...he gets really jealous of Harry and he always wants to copy off my school work and sometimes he can be really depressing but yah...thats all."

"Ok," Fred said finally becoming serious again. He tapped the quill once again with his wand and handed the pieces of parchment to me. "That might help you make a decision."

"Thanks!" I look over the lists. They were pretty short. In truth I didn't have many cons or pros for either of them. They were my friends. I liked and accepted them just the way they were.

"Oh and Hermione, if you think Ron hugs too much I expect he's not your guy." Fred winks at me before walking away.

"Wait where are you going?" I call after him.

"The order," he says. "Have fun making your decision."

I sighed. My problems hadn't seemed so big when Fred was around. Now they seemed monstorous.

I spent the rest of the day sitting on my bed staring down at my pro and con lists. They didn't help. I wasn't going to decide to be with Harry because he's brave or Ron because he's funny. And there's no way I would use the fact that Harry might die next year or that Ron copies off my school work as a way of choosing. This wasn't going to solve anything.

A couple months ago when I'd told Ginny about my feelings her advice had been to make the more sensible choice. Relationships can be messy, she'd said, if you want there to be a chance you two may still be friends after you need to go with the sensible choice.

Viktor, after telling me how deeply he cared for me and how betrayed he felt that I had "carried on with him" (I so did not!) when I had so many feelings for other boys told me to do whatever my heart told me to do.

It felt good to have someone to confide in but neither of them helped me very much. Ginny tried to subtly hint that she thought I liked Ron better and Viktor could care less who I picked.

"What are these?" Ginny asked. I look up startled to find her in my room pulling my lists away from me.

"They're nothing. You really don't need to see them. Stupid really."

"Pros and cons???" She threw the papers back at me. "I thought you'd decided on Ron or are you just leading him on?"

"Ginny its not like that. I just wanted to make sure I was making the right decision -"

"You should have made sure it was the right decision BEFORE you told my brother you liked him!" Ginny interrupts. Her fiery red hair seems redder and her cheeks are flushed with anger. "Is this why you didn't want me to tell Harry? You -"

"Hey ladies am I interrupting anything?" Fred pokes his head in, looking at us hopefully. He probably thinks we're gonna start wrestling or something.

"YES!" we both scream at him. Fred looks quite taken aback.

"I'm sorry but there's a meeting for the children," he says, dragging out the word children to get a raise out of us.

"Fine," Ginny says marching out of the room without so much as looking at me. I'm surprised smoke hasn't started to blow from her ears by now. I shake my head in frustration and follow in suite. Fred grabs my arm as I walk by.

"Thought you might like to know I sent an owl to George wondering if he knew about a potion that could make my hair a little more... red," he says adopting the same tone he'd used this afternoon. "What do you think about that, Darlin'?" he asks attempting to flip his hair at me.

I glare at him. I am really not in the mood.

"Do not call me 'darlin'," I hiss mimicking his voice. I shove past him moodily.

"Love you too, darlin'," he calls after me.

I don't even bother to turn around. He was so full of himself. His red hair wasn't even that great. It was darker than Ron's and shinier. I've seen better...Alright fine I admit it! his hair is great. I like his hair. I like Ginny's hair. I like Ron's hair. But their hair does not make up for the fact that they are all driving me mad! Weasleys'! I seeth. What is it about them?

"Hermione, glad you could join us," Dumbledore greets me kindly. I gasp. Dumbledore was here? Wait...did this mean that Harry was here too?

"Now as I was saying, it appears that Harry may not be able to leave his home as soon as we had thought therefore I am allowing him to have one friend live with him at Privet Drive until a solution has presented itself."

There is a God, I think.

"I want you to decide who is to go amongst yourselves but please note that Harry has specifically suggested that Miss Granger be the one."

Or not...

He smiles at me though he is the only one. Ginny is refusing to look at me, an ugly scowl upon her face and Ron is staring at Dumbledore looking completely dumbfounded.

"I think," Ginny starts, "it would be best if I be the one to go stay with Harry for ... reasons."

"Ah," says Dumbledore. "Hermione, Ron, what do you say?"

Ron shrugs. "Sounds alright to me." He looks at me and I know I can't argue this.

"Sure," I say unconvincingly.

"If you're sure..." he murmurs running his hand along his long silvery beard. "Harry has shown great desire in your presence."

Ron swivels his head to look at me so fast he may have given himself whiplash. He just had to use the word desire didn't he.I don't say anything, just look down at my hands.

"Miss Weasley if you will pack a small suitcase I will transport you in thirty minutes, hurry now," Dumbledore says shooing her out of the room.

I managed to slip away fifteen minutes later to corner Ginny. She was still just as angry as before if not more.

"I'm not going to tell him if that's what you're worried about," she snaps at me, throwing things viciously into a bag.

"I'm not worried about that," I lie. "But thank you."

Ginny snorts in reply. "Don't think I'm doing this for you, Hermione," she says her voice hard and cold. I've never seen Ginny act like this before. "I am doing this because I think Harry deserves to know whatever is going on between you and him and you and Ron. I think Harry deserves to hear the truth - from you."

"I'll tell him as soon as you guys get back," I promise her. "I swear."

Ginny doesn't say anything for a moment, busying herself by trying to zip up her suitcase. When she looks up all the anger in her eyes is gone replaced by a weary, iced gaze. "Hermione, I'd like to believe you but if you don't just remember this: I will."

***

Told From Harry's POV

So this is it. I get to see Hermione again. Try to see if I really feel the same way about her that she feels for me. I still have some doubt it in my mind. I can't wait to see how Dudley's going to act around her. His last interaction with someone from the wizarding world (excluding the dementors) was with Mr. Weasley. If he acts like that for the next couple weeks I don't think I'll be able to keep a straight face this time. I'm more worried about Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon. They aren't pleased with having to feed and shelter the witches from the Order and they definitely did not enjoy their meeting with Dumbledore although he did manage to convince them to let Hermione stay.

I stand up and begin impulsively straightening up my room. A small cot has been brought up from my old cupboard for Hermione. To be nice I'll offer her the bed first. Hopefully she won't take it.

"Harry!" Uncle Vernon hollers at me. Why can't he get off his own oversize ass and come talk to me? I try to keep my temper in check. This is definitely not a good time to make Uncle Vernon mad.

"Yes?" I ask, trying to sound polite. Uncle Vernon is sitting in his usual haunt in front of the television eating a pudding.

"I have some ground rules for you, boy," he spat out. He looks over at his wife in disgust. "You should be on your hands and knees thanking your Aunt because if it weren't for her you'd have been out of her a long time ago. This little situation of yours is getting out of control. Now I may tollerate a few yappy old...," he hesitates and I nearly think he would call them wizards, "...fools to protect us from danger but do not think that I'm becoming any more lienent do you hear me?"

"Yes, Uncle Vernon," I nod absently. He's been on about this ever since the people from the Order had arrived. He obviously doesn't want to relinquish any power he thinks he has over me so he's acting like he's allowing all this because it benefits him but the truth is he's scared of them. He was scared of Mr. Weasley at King's Cross, he was scared of Dumbledore last night and quite possibly he's scared of me too. He thinks that if he doesn't do what they ask one of them will come and try to turn Dudley into a pig again.

"This girl, this friend of yours there is to be no funny business between the two of you, understood? Since so many of your ... your people are here you are responsible for the cooking and the cleaning from now on and it better be good, boy or all of these ... people are out!"

"Yes, Uncle Vernon," I say again clenching my fists to hold my temper. Think of Hermione. Think of Hermione. Cooking and cleaning weren't so bad in the exchange of her company.

"And if she tries anything on Dudley ..."

Like she'll even see Dudley. He's been hiding up in his room since yesterday. This morning I listened at his door to check for signs of life and I heard him whimpering. He is such a simpering moron. Its hard to believe that I'm related to him.

"Is she here yet?" Tonks asks coming up behind me. Her hair is now the sparkling shade of gold.

I shake my head as Uncle Vernon waddles out of the room muttering something under his breath about, 'being invaded'. As scary as this summer might be I was really getting a kick out of this.

Aunt Petunia as usual stood staring out her window watching for Hermione. I noticed she was also keeping a close eye on the fireplace.

"When's your little girlfriend coming?" she asks in a nasty voice. "I do hope she knows we aren't just sitting around here waiting for her to arrive. We do have lives you know." She gave a high nasal laugh.

But you are all waiting for her to arrive I wanted to say but like a good boy I kept my mouth shut.

"She's from your school isn't she?" Aunt Petunia "Another one of those freaks. It's really not good for Dudley to see your type. He's very well brought up you know...unlike you," she continued, glaring at me.

Hey, you brought me up too, I think.

I look over at Aunt Petunia as the gentle chimes of the Dursleys' front doorbell rings. Her mouth disappears into a short, thin line and her face is now visibly paler.

"Well are you going to get it?" she shrills at me sharply.

I nearly run to pull open the door. The moment I've been waiting for. Should I hug her? I wonder. Kiss her? Do nothing at all?

My heart races in anticipation as I reach for the door handle. There she would be that bushy haired, know it all I've been best friends with for the last five years standing for the very first time on my front porch. Ok, I'm ready. I turn the handle and wait a second what's going on that couldn't be -

"Ginny?"

"Harry!" she squeals, dropping her bag and hurling her tiny body at me. Whoa...I think, as she nearly runs me over.

"Ginny?" I say again. "What are you doing here?"

"Visiting you of course," she says cheerfully, grabbing her bag and closing the door behind us. "Now where's your room? I should drop my stuff there. .. Wow this place is so clean." Ginny hasn't looked me in the eye yet. I know something must be wrong. She's being too...happy. She's avoiding.

I hear Uncle Vernon let out a loud cough from the other room. I know what this means. Its a signal that I'm "wanted".

"Come on, Ginny," I say taking her hand and dragging her into the sitting room. "It's time you meet me family. Be nice," I add not wanting another fight.

Uncle Vernon hasn't moved since our talk and Aunt Petunia is now hovering around playing with the sleeves of her blouse nervously. They both stop to stare as we enter the room.

"Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, this is Ginny. Ginny, this is my aunt and uncle."

Ginny smiles brightly and extends her hand to Aunt Petunia. I can see shock register in my aunt's brain as she looks down at Ginny for a moment. I'm surprised when she shakes hands politely. That howler really must have sent her off her rocker.

Uncle Vernon as per my expectations sat like a lump ignoring Ginny. He'd given her the once over and obviously decided she was just as much a freak as me.

"We'll be upstairs," I tell them.

"It was nice to meet you," Ginny says with an overexagerated curtsy. Out of the corner of my eye I see Uncle Vernon's moustache twitch. Now he really thinks she's out of her mind.

"That's Dudley's room." I point to the closed door as we pass it. "I doubt he wants to meet you though. Sorry."

"Thats all right." She shrugs and places her bag down on my bed. We both look at each other and then out the window awkwardly.

"So...uh, what do you do for fun around here in the Muggle world?" she asks.

I grin an idea popping into my head. "Well if you wanted we could take a walk and scare some of the neighbourhood kids. They all think I go to St Brutis School For Incuribally Criminal Boys."

"Why do the houses all look the same?" Ginny asked me for about the millionth time tonight. We'd been walking around the neighbourhood for a couple hours by now. It had gotten dark but I wasn't worried about what Uncle Vernon would say. I knew he wouldn't dare try to punish me with Tonks and Mundungus popping up every few seconds whenever we spoke. They were on strict orders from Mr. Weasley to make sure I was happy as well as safe.

"Part of it could be cause they aren't held up by magic," I laughed referring to her own home, the Burrow. Don't get me wrong, I loved the Burrow but if there hadn't been a lot of powerful magic holding it up it would have toppled over long ago. If I had ever said this to Ron he would probably have tried to punch me but Ginny just grinned. But Ginny was very different than Ron. I was beginning to find out that she shared some of her father's affinity for Muggle objects. She kept asking me to tell her about street lights, cars and powerlines. She even made me explain how mail was delivered here when we past Mr. Newton collecting his mail from the mailboxes on the corner.

"Harry," Ginny suddenly gasped stopping dead. She pointed into the shadows by the park. Three dark figures were slowly walking towards us. "They're not ... dementors are they?" She gripped my hand tightly.

I frowned, squinting to see them better. I didn't see any dementors but I saw was in my opinon worse. "No," I say trying to uproot her from her frozen state. "But we should turn around and go home anyway. Thats Dudley's gang."

"So?" she questioned. "We'll just ignore them. I don't want to go back. I'm having fun."

Again I tried desperately to tug her with me. "Ginny you don't understand these guys are big, mean. The worst type of Muggles you could meet. You'll understand when you meet Dudley. Now come on lets get out of here."

"Harry," a deep growling met my ears.

Too late...

Piers Polkiss and two of his followers stood in front of me. An evil looking smile flitted over Piers' overporportioned features. "I'm sure its way past your bedtime." He turned to his friends. "What do you think boys, should we teach them a lesson?"

Ginny's hand squeezed mine tightly. Piers wasn't like Malfoy, there was nothing we could do to threaten him.

"What do we have here?" Piers leered catching sight of Ginny shrinking behind me. He let out a low whistle. "Get outta town, Potter, don't tell me you've actually managed to get a girlfriend?"

He reached over to touch a strand of Ginny's hair.

"Not bad," he murmured. "Mind if I borrow her for awhile?" He and his gang laughed loudly as I jerked Ginny farther behind me so she was barely visible.

"On my count," I whisper to her out of the side of my mouth. "We run." Ginny nods against my back.

I hope Piers' didn't hear our little exchange, I think. Anything I can think of saying will only provoke him and I don't fancy a black eye at the moment. I just stand there looking scared, a reaction I know Piers thrives on.

"One," I whisper my eyes flickering wildly from Piers to his friends.

"Two."

"So what do you say Potter? You have about -"

"Three," I shout, ignoring Piers and taking off running as fast as I can back down the road. I grip Ginny's hand tightly, not letting her fall behind me. I let go as soon as we reach the Dursley's driveway.

"See," I say panting. "You better be sure we don't run into him again. ... I think thats enough action for tonight how bout we just watch a little bit of nice, normal TV before going to bed?"

"Harry...umm..what's TV?"

I laugh and pull her into the house.

***

I soon found out that sharing my bedroom with Ginny was not as fun as I'd thought. First of all she took my bed so I wake up every morning with a sore back and neck and second she insists that I explain what every little nick nack she finds means in the life of the Dursleys.

Ginny doesn't seem to be acting like herself either. She's put up this cheerful front of small talk and smiles that she hasn't let come down yet - well except for an hour, when I'd receieved a phone call from Hermione and she'd refused to speak to me. Whatever she was hiding from me must be important and it obviously involved someone from her home. I wondered again why Ginny had come instead of Hermione or Ron. Had something happened to one of them?

I shook my head in frustration. The only time I had away from Ginny was during the hours 6am - 9am, when Aunt Petunia made me cook large quantities of bacon and eggs and wash all of the breakfast/last night's dinner dishes. The first morning after Ginny had arrived Aunt Petunia had woken me up early to fulfill my end of the "deal", which I didn't remember having any choice in. I've been waking up early ever since. I'm glad now that I never asked Ginny to help. Don't get me wrong I still like Ginny she's just starting to get on my nerves a little. Although seeing Dudley around her amuses me to no end. A look of pure horror overcomes his face whenever she enters a room and as soon as he gets over the shock of seeing her for the millionth time that day he scrambles out of the room sometimes falling over on his face. But aside from this perk I was dying to see the rest of my friends.

Hermione had told me over the phone that Fred had come back to join the Order while George kept up the store. Ron, she'd said was being Ron and she also explained in great detail of Mrs. Weasley's adventures in Muggle cooking. Everyone else in the Order was either staying in Harry's basement or rarely seen. They were trying to increase their numbers and all members who weren't off on an assignment were trying to convert more people to join the war against Voldemort.

Needless to say I was thrilled when during Ginny's fourth night a loud crack interrupted our dinner though Uncle Vernon certainly wasn't. He had become surprisingly confident around wizards after living them for days.

"I will not have this in my house!" he shouts, shaking his fist at Dumbledore. "What will the neighbours think? This had better be the last time or I'll bloody well -"

"I'm here to take Harry and Ginny home," Dumbledore says quietly, shutting Uncle Vernon up. He'd do anything to get me out of the house.

"How are you Harry?" Dumbledore asks, handing me an official looking document with a solumn face. A lump formed in my throat. It was Sirius's will.

I'd inherited it all: the house where the Order resided, another house I hadn't even known existed, all of his belongings and a vault full of gold at Gringotts. A silver key materilized in my hand as I read over the list. I stood clutching it in my hand trying not to cry for what felt like an eternity.

"Thank you," I try to say meaningfully but it comes out sounding dull. Dumbledore pats my hand gently.

"There is one other thing," he says pulling something out of his cloak. He holds it out to me. It's a letter. The name Harry Potter is scrawled across it in what I recobnize as Sirius's handwriting. I take it and shove it deepingly into my pockets. I want to read it but not now, in front of all these people.

"Are you ready?" Dumbledore asks. He snaps his fingers and my trunk, Hedwig's empty cage and Ginny's carry all bag float down the stairs neatly packed.

Dudley's jaw drops and he looks as though his fondest desire is to curl up under the kitchen table. Uncle Vernon stares hard at Dumbledore looking extremely miffed.

"How are we travelling?"

I hope we're not flying again. I'm not sure Ginny could handle that. I'm not even sure if I could! I know Ginny arrived here by Muggle transportation but if we all - Tonks with her purple hair, Mad Eye with his well...mad eye or Dumbledore dressed in his emerald green robe and long silver beard - did that we'd look quite conspicious to say the least. It's not safe to go by floo powder what with the grate's being monitored now. I didn't know any other means of travel after all Ginny and I can't apparate.

Dumbledore smiles at me and reaches into his cloak once again. This time he pulls out something much larger than a letter. It looks like a an ordinary houseplant. He points to it with his want and mutters, "Deveni." Causing starfish shaped flowers to sprout rapidly until they reached the size of a soccer ball.

"These," he says,"are Flutter flowers. They were made illegal back in 1963 because of the horrible trouble they gave the Ministry but I've taken to growing them by myself in case of emergencies." He winks and passes the pot to Ginny and I.

"Pick one."

Ginny carefully takes a shiny pink one and I tear off a green one that reminds me of the Gryfindor House Team's colours.

"Now Flutterer's are fickle things. You have to be careful."

I see that Ginny isn't really paying attention. She's inspecting her pink Flutter flower instead. Oh well, it's her own fault if she ends up being transported to Africa because she doesn't know what to do. I turn my attention back to the Headmaster.

"You must imagine the place you want to go but you can't just think of the name. No, it's a little more complicated tahn that. You must try to imagine the sights, smells and people you want to se. Once this is in your mind - Ginny no!"

Aunt Petunia lets out a scream as Ginny's flower spins out of control before it turns grey, wilts and crumbles to the ground in a pile of ash.

"You are extremely lucky you weren't thinking of anywhere right now," Dumbledore says smiling kindly at her.

"What - what did I do?" Ginny asks, her face deathly pale as Dumbledore offers her a second one.

"The power of the Flutter flower is in the pollen. Once sniffed the power is gone and the flower will die. I believe you smelled the flower Miss Weasley?"

Ginny nods, the blue Flutter trembling in her hand.

"Now I want you to do as I've instructed and when you feel you're ready smell your Flutter. The rest of us will disapparte with your luggage. Good luck!"

I close my eyes and think of the dark walls of Sirius's, I mean my house. I think o fthe black curtains that are pulled over Mrs. Black's portrait, the sweet smells of Mrs. Weasley's cooking and the familiar faces of my friends. Slowly I lift the flower to my nose and breath in the soft aroma of fruit juice.

Suddenly I feel a peculiar sensation like I'm flying through a sea of green light but like the blink of an eye the light was gone and I stood before the Weasley's and Hermione. A flash of blue light and Ginny tumbles into me.

There's a stunned silence as they all stare at us. I guess they weren't expecting us. Hope thats not a problem...

***

Told From Ron's POV

Hermione lets go of my hand with a loud thud beneath the table though nobody notices. They're all getting up to welcome their precious Potter...including Hermione. She rushes to give him a hug. I watch him kiss her on the cheek. What is that about?

"You and me need to talk after dinner," I hear him say to MY girlfriend in a low voice. She nods and doesn't take her place sitting back beside me but settles herself inbetween Harry and Fred. I glare at her. What is going on?

"So Harry how's it going?" Fred asks him. Harry ignores Fred. He turns to me instead a big smile on his face.

"Hey Ron," he says. I look at him for a second. Yah you smile you big chump, I think. You take everything I want but you keep on smiling. I don't respond and go back to eating my pudding.

Harry doesn't try to talk to me again but starts up a conversation with Fred. He tells Harry of all their latest experiments and how they visit the Leaky Cauldron every once and awhile to find people to be experimented on. For once Hermione smiles at this instead of going on about how wrong it is. What is up with her? She doesn't talk at all through out dinner but ignores me and continues smiling at Fred and Harry.

Mom doesn't ask any of us to help her clean up tonight. She says that we should all celebrate Harry and Ginny's arrival with a bit of magic. Finally she blows her whole Muggle streak. Maybe tomorrow night we'll have some good food! Although I have to admit it is starting to get better with practice.

I want to follow Harry and Hermione to listen to whatever it is that they have to talk about but Fred all of a sudden pops into my face and blocks my view of them. Damn now I can't follow them.

"So aren't you happy?" Fred asks me, bouncing back and forth obscuring my view even more. Ok, well I can see that they're going up the stairs but where to? Get out of my way Fred!

"About what?" I reply trying hard to get around him.

"Having Harry here. Isn't he like your best friend?"

"In a way," I say, pushing past him. Has Hermione asked Fred to stop me from following them? Well if she did. It worked. I have no idea where they went.

"I'm going to my room," I announce to no one in particular. Ginny looks at me sadly. Does everyone know something but me?

I throw myself on my bed and ponder all the different reasons Hermione and Harry "need to talk". That kiss is bothering me to. But this time it was his doing. I know Harry and he doesn't normally go around kissing people for no reason, not unless he likes them. Oh God, Harry likes Hermione. He's going to tell her that tonight! Thats what they're talking about. He doesn't know about me and Hermione cause I wasn't allowed to tell him!

I want to scream but instead I throw a pillow at one of the portraits hanging on the wall that's laughing at me.

"You shut up you -" I stop short when I hear voices outside my door. It's Hermione and Fred. I press my ear to the door, hoping they weren't planning on coming in.

"So you're sure he doesn't know?" she asks him, a worried note in her voice.

"Completely. Went straight here after dinner."

"He didn't try to follow us?"

"Well...I distracted him a little so he couldn't."

"Fred!" I hear her tinkling laugh outside my door and I feel the need to hit something or someone.

"So what'd you tell Harry?"

I stop my fuming and stand up a little straighter.

"What we talked about. Not everything. I'm gonna need a bigger solution soon. We still have to worry about Ginny."

"Don't worry," Fred laughs. "I've got it all taken care of. I've got quite a bit of blackmail I can use on her."

"You sure you want to do that?"

"Anything for you, Darlin'," he says.

DARLIN'???? I had never in my life heard Fred call anyone that and since when had Hermione and my brother been so buddy buddy. My God they're flirting! What is Hermione having some hormonal meltdown? Next thing I know she's gonna be all over Malfoy!

"Fred, how many time do I have to tell you not to call me that!" she says but you can by her voice that she enjoys it.

I will not listen to anymore of this, I think as I lay back down on my bed and stare at the ceiling. Why is there another trunk by the bed across the room? Oh, no no no no. I'm sharing a room with Harry. This is going to be torture. He's probably going to go on and on about how much he likes Hermione and what am I supposed to say to him, too late she already likes me? Or does she. I don't even know anymore.

***

Harry came back to our room a few hours later looking pretty happy. I pretended to be asleep as he changed into his pajamas.

"So Ron," he says climbing into bed. I guess I've tried this trick too many times before. "Is there anything going on between you and Hermione?"

"No," I say instantly wanting to kick myself. Why didn't I say yes? "Is there anything going on between you and Hermione?"

Harry shakes his head.

"Now the question is is there something going on between Fred and Hermione," I mutter into my pillow.

"What?" Harry laughs. "Fred and Hermione? Ron I don't think so."

I glare at him. "I heard them talking earlier outside my door and they were...I think they were flirting."

Harry laughs again, making me furious. I'm not stupid! I heard what I heard.

"What were they saying?"

"He kept calling her darling and...saying he'd do anything for her. It was flirting."

Harry becomes silent and I let out a silent cheer.

"But Hermione...she would never...not with...with Fred, right? You don't think..."

We both hush up.

"But Hermione and Fred just don't fit," Harry says breaking the silence. "She's smart and goes completely by the rules and Fred's...not into academics and has complete disregard for the rules."

"You know what they say, opposites attract," I say miserably.

"But...no," Harry says more to himself than me. He sounds pretty upset. Maybe its time to tell the truth. Harry is my best friend. Why should I keep any of this from him?

"What'd you guys talk tonight?" I ask him. He furrows his brow and looks away from me.

"Stuff, she just filled me in on everything..thats been happening lately."

Here was my chance. I could tell him. I should. Yah, I'm going to. If I do Harry might back off and he'd be a good ally against Fred.

"So then she told you about me and her right?"

Harry doesn't say anything. I'm almost scared to look over at him and when I do he has a mixtured look of total confusion and sadness washed over his face.

"Excuse me? You just said..you and Hermione??????" Now he looks angry.

Ooops..maybe I don't want to get into this with him.

***

Told From Hermione's POV

Everything was going great. I'd talked to Harry last night about how I wasn't sure about my feelings so we should try not to display too much affection until I figure everything out. Turns out he's not sure either! Now all I have to do is try to do the same with Ron. Fred promised me he had everything with Ginny under control.

I hummed to myself as I skipped downstairs. I'd woken up early this morning so I decided to make breakfast as a favour to Mrs. Weasley. Pancakes maybe? Can I cook pancakes? Can I even cook? I giggled. I could handle it.

My happiness however was short lived. Sitting around the dinning room table all looking tired and exceptionally angry was Ron, Harry and Ginny.

"So what's up guys?" I say nervously walking towards them. Please don't let this be about me. Please don't let this be about me. Although deep down I knew it had to be.

Ginny made a tutting sound while Ron glared. I looked to Harry hoping to have someone on my side but even though he didn't look as mad as the others he was showing no remorse. I guess I don't deserve it anyway.

"Is there something you'd like to tell us?" Ron says in a low voice ladled with sarcasm.

"How could you do this to us, Hermione?" Harry asks, before I can say anything. "Why?"

I stand there, shaking as everyone's eyes turn to me. I don't know what to say. Is there even really an answer? I don't know. I don't know anything anymore.

"I - I don't know," I stammer. "I didn't mean to do it. It just happened."

"Things like this do not just happen, Hermione!" Ron yells at me. "This was planned. I heard you and Fred talking yesterday -"

"You were listening in on and my private conversations?" I shout, starting to get just as fired up as he.

"Hey," Ginny intervines. "I don't think you're in any position to say anything about that."

"Neither are you! Ginny, you knew everything. You've known everything for months! You're just as guilty as me. Twice as guilty because you betrayed me!"

"Oh, I betrayed you?" Ginny asks her voice coming out in a high squeak. "Look what you've done! I didn't tell them anything. They figured it out all by themselves. It doesn't take a genius to guess what you've been up to!"

She's gotten up and is shouting just as loudly as me.

"Hey!" Harry steps inbetween us. "Thats enough! We don't need to fight. We can talk about this. Lets listen to what Hermione has to say before we jump to conclusions."

I throw a thankful smile Harry's way but he doesn't smile back just motions for me to sit down.

"Listening to Hermione is what got us here in the first place," Ron says from his place across from me. His hands are clenched in tight fists. I feel tears form as he gives me a gaze of hatred. What have I done? I knew this would happen.

"Ron," Harry says in a stern voice. I notice he's still got a restraining arm around Ginny as he turns to me and asks me in a weary voice, "Why Hermione?"

The question breaks my heart. I wish there was some magic spell I could weave into my words to help ease their pain. There probably was but I couldn't see it.

"Just feeling particually malicious that day?" Ron eyes me.

"I -" I start as tears begin to roll down my face.

"Stop crying!" Ron says in a tight voice. "You don't get to cry. This is your fault. Now deal with the consquences!"

"Hermione?" Harry asks releasing Ginny and walking over to my chair. "There is a reasonable explanation for this isnt there?" He takes my hand. My tears must have broken him, convinced him I'm not the horrible person he had thought before.

I shake my head. "I don't know," I whisper. "I don't know why. I wish I did. Maybe I -"

"Oh come off it," Ron sighs loudly finally standing up to gather round me with Ginny and Harry. "Stop playing the innocent. You do have a reason. You told Ginny you like us both, couldn't choose so you tried to play us both."

"Is this true?" Harry asks. Ginny narrows her eyes. If you don't tell him - I will, she'd said.

"It's more complicated than that," I cry.

A pained look replaces the sympathetic one on Harry's face. He gets up now disgusted with me. "But its true?"

I nod. Harry turns away running his hands through his hair over and over again while Ron stares hard at me.

"So who's it going to be?" he asks. "It's time to choose. Who wins? Me or Harry?"

"I - I can't answer that," I say.

"Why not?" Ron asks menacingly.

"Because I don't know!" I shout. "I don't know! Can't we just forget all of this and go back to being friends? The way we were?"

Ron snorts. "Friends? After all this you want us to be friends? So you put us through all this for nothing? Sorry Hermione, should have thought of that before. This ruins everything. Nothing's going to go back to the way it was. And it's all your fault!"

"I didn't mean - I'm sorry I -" I struggle to fix things. I know I can't. Ron's right. I ruined everything.

"I think you've said enough," Harry murmurs to me. "It might be smart to learn to think before you speak."

I hiccup back a sob. I don't know what to do so I run past Ginny's disappointment, Ron's anger and Harry's pain to the only safe haven there is for me in this place.

"Whats the matter, dear?" I hear Mrs. Weasley ask as I run past her. I'm sure her children will tell her.

I don't stop until I come to the place I'm looking for. I know it's only seven in the morning but I knock on the door anyway trying desperately to keep my sobs under control.

"Hermione what's wrong?"

"Everything," I manage to say as I collapse against his chest crying my heart out. He pats my hair awkwardly, murmuring comfortingly in my ear before closing the door: "Whatever it is, it's gonna be ok, darlin'. I promise."